Hudson: Tsongas calls for more Community Development funding

Thursday

Aug 14, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By Jeff MalachowskiDaily News Staff

HUDSON – Calling the Community Development Block Grant program critical to helping cities and towns fund projects such as the recent renovation of the senior center, Congresswoman Niki Tsongas Wednesday called for more funding for the program.Enacted in 1974, the federal Community Development Block Grant program, which is overseen by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, provides grant funding to cities and towns to modernize infrastructure, improve economic development and implement anti-poverty programs.Hudson utilized $900,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to help pay for the recent renovation of the senior center, which now features increased space for activities and programs, a new medical room, two large meeting spaces and several updated amenities.While touring the center Wednesday, Tsongas said the program is essential to helping local communities afford infrastructure improvements, including the senior center project."I see the outcome of those investments every day," said Tsongas. "I’ve seen over and over and over again it’s a critical source of funding for communities."This year, Massachusetts cities and towns will receive $27.5 million in Community Development Block Grant funding, a number Tsongas hopes will increase in the future."We need to continue to grow it," said Tsongas, who has supported funding the program at necessary levels to meet communities’ needs since being elected seven years ago. "There have been proposals to cut funding that I've opposed."During her tour, Tsongas lauded the improvements to the facility, such as the new geothermal heating and cooling system."I’m so impressed," she said.Tsongas also discussed legislation she introduced to help seniors, including the Senior and Retired Volunteers Act, which provides targeted federal tax relief to seniors participating in Massachusetts’ local volunteer programs, and the Social Security Savers Act, which encourages low-income and disabled seniors build up their personal savings and help them transition off federal assistance like welfare.Vivian Belcher, a regular at the senior center, said Tsongas’ efforts, such as supporting the Community Development Block Grant program, have helped seniors across the state."She’s done a lot," said Belcher.Jeff Malachowski can be reached at 508-490-7466 or jmalachowski@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @JmalachowskiMW.

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